COMRADE PANDHE HAS WRITTEN THE FOLLOWING LETTER TO SHRI MANMOHAN SINGH

Press Release
29th May 2010

Shri Manmohan Singh

Prime Minister

Government of India

South Block

New Delhi – 110 011

Dear Prime Minister,

I would like to draw attention to the present situation in Air India due to high handed policy adopted by the Chairman of the undertaking. If the present situation is allowed to continue the very existence of a premier Public Sector Undertaking will be at stake.

It is a matter of great concern to the trade union movement in India that the Reports of the Standing Committee of Parliament on Transport and Tourism as well as Committee on Public Sector Undertakings have indicted both Ministry of Civil Aviation and Air India management for the present mailace in Air India.

However both of them have failed to take any action in the matter. I would earnestly request you to find out why no action is being taken on both these reports by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Air India management.

If a high power enquiry is conducted you will find that both the Minister of Civil Aviation and Chairman Air India are doing everything to promote private sector companies in Civil Aviation and damaging the interest of Air India. The present Chairman of Air India is openly promoting communal elements in Air India and suppressing well established and recognized unions in the undertaking.

The present Chairman has destroyed bipartite relations in the public sector undertaking and behaving in an autocratic manner even with the senior executives of the company. I have received several complains personally from executives of Air India. There is urgent need to enquire the links developed by CMD of Air India with some private concerns at the cost of public sector undertaking.

I would like to draw your attention that both Indian Airlines and Air India were breaking even when they were merged. How it has incurred heavy losses after merger? The reports of Standing Committee and COPU have thrown some light on the question but it is being nonchalantly ignored by the Minister of Civil Aviation and CMD of Air India. The present Chairman has derecognized the major unions and sealed their offices while large number of employees have been summarily dismissed or suspended.

Please note that trade union movement in India will not be a silent spectator if the suppression of trade union rights are such a blatant manner is allowed in India. The policies pursued by Minister of Civil aviation as well as Chairman Air India are clearly directed to give advantage to the private sector companies and close down the premier public undertaking in India.

You will appreciate that since 1st January 2007 no improvement in living conditions of the employees has taken place while management unilaterally withdrew several existing benefits without even discussing with the trade unions. The employees were not paid even bonus last year yet the employees were peaceful and co-operated with the management to improve the performance of the undertaking.

However, the objective attitude shown by the employees is considered by the CMD as their weakness and he has been trampling underfoot legitimate struggles of the employees. I am informed that the employees of Air India will resort to one day strike on 12th June 2010 to protest against the highhanded policy of the CMD. Due to large scale victimization the employees are agitated and desire that all victimization measures should be withdrawn and recognition of the union should be restored.

If the strike materializes the passengers will be greatly inconvenienced but for that the management of Air India will be solely responsible. I hope you will view these developments with concern and intervene in the dispute so that normalcy is restored and Air India can march ahead despite unhealthy competition indulged in by the private civil aviation companies.

With personal regards,

Yours sincerely,
(M K PANDHE)

Vice President

VERDICT ON BHOPAL GAS TRAGEDY –TRAVESTY OF JUSTICE AND GOVERNANCE - CITU

Press Release

07-06-2010

CITU is shocked to note that after 26 years of world’s biggest industrial disaster claiming 25000 lives and leaving millions perpetually sick in and around Union Carbide factory, Bhopal, the verdict has come making mockery of administrative and legal process in the country. From the very beginning, various institutions of the judiciary including the apex court diluted the crime against people of India and Bhopal in particular committed by an American MNC. CITU notes that the Government miserably failed to book all those who were responsible for this mass murder before the court of law in suitable manner. This judgment will encourage other corporate, both Indian and foreign, to ignore all safety norms in otherwise accident prone industrial scenario of the country as they can get away scot-free in the eventuality of disasters like Bhopal Gas Tragedy. CITU demands stern action against all those, including erstwhile CMD of Union Carbide as criminals. CITU further demands that all the victims have to be compensated adequately. CITU further warns the people of India of similar accidents if the Government of India continues its strategic flirting with US as evident from the Nuclear Liability Bill brought before the Parliament to serve the interests of U.S Government and American nuclear manufacturers.

TAPAN SEN, MP, GENERAL SECRETARY, CITU WRITES TO PRIME MINISTER (on reports of deregulation of Petrol & Diesel pricing)

5th June 2010

Dear Mr. Prime Minister,

There are disquieting reports that Empowered Group of Minister(EGOM) is scheduled to take up the issue of deregulating the pricing of petrol and diesel on 7th June 2010 as per Kirit Parikh Committee which is likely to increase price of these petroleum products by Rs. 3/- to Rs. 3.50 per litre. Such a decision apart from the cascading effect on the present unbearable inflation will also go against the following unanimous recommendation of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Petroleum and Natural Gas placed in Parliament on 22.04.2010.

“The Committee note that the Expert Group headed by Dr. Kirit Parekh Committee has made several recommendations on ‘viable and sustainable pricing of petroleum products’. In this regard, the Committee urge the Government not to consider the expert group recommendations in isolation but to give due weightage to the recommendations made by the Committee on Petroleum and Natural Gas in their 6th and 10th Reports (14th Lok Sabha) on ‘Pricing of Petroleum Products’.”

You will kindly agree that Executive is accountable to Parliament and not vice-versa. Therefore the above recommendation read along with recommendations about made in 6th and 10th report (14th Lok Sabha) cannot be sidelined / ignored by Parikh committee appointed by the Executive. This in my humble opinion will to a large extent erode the credibility of Parliamentary Committees and Parliament. I therefore urge upon you to advise the EGOM not to take any decision before getting the same examined by the Parliamentary Committee constituted for this purpose.

With regards,

Yours sincerely,
Sd/-TAPAN SEN

Dr. Manmohan Singh

Prime Minister

Government of India

CITU ON DOUBLE DIGIT INFLATION

Press Release
15-06-2010

STOP GIVING EMPTY ASSURANCES

CITU ask Government to desist from giving empty assurances time and again that inflation will come down when the same has reached the highest during last 19 months. The prices of essential items like pulses, vegetables, sugar have become unbearable and the Government’s only visible action is limited to such assurances without any relief to the common man reeling under the impact of rising prices.

CITU demand immediate action by the Government to revitalize the Public Distribution System, to immediately reduce taxes on crude oil and petroleum products and to withdraw the hike in prices of gas to curb fuel price inflation which has cascading impact on inflation. CITU also demand imposition of a complete ban on futures trade on all essential commodities.

CITU urges that in view of high inflation the Government should increase the statutory minimum wages, increase the rate of interest on provident fund and increase Government’s contribution to Employees Pension Scheme.

CITU calls upon the working class to prepare for countrywide united struggle including massive all India Strike so that the present Government is forced to give priority to inflation and price control instead of its present focus on the so called GDP growth and disinvestment of public assets.